Departures, 2025.
Directed by Lloyd Eyre-Morgan and Neil Ely.
Starring Lloyd Eyre-Morgan, David Tag, Liam Boyle, Tyler Conti, Lorraine Stanley, and Kerry Howard.
SYNOPSIS:
Benji encounters Jake at an airport gate, sensing attraction. Their relationship unfolds through Amsterdam trips and intimacy, revealing complex power dynamics.
Taking an honest look at gay romance and sexuality in the modern world, Departures is a heartfelt, empathic and frequently hilarious take on the relationship comedy drama. Focusing its story – excellently written by one of the stars and co-directors, Lloyd Eyre-Morgan – on the tangled love life of Benji (Eyre-Morgan) and Jake (David Tag), the film offers an unflinching look at passion and obsession. Plenty of dark comic moments play out expertly, but there is real sympathy for the characters; we truly care about them and want to learn more about their motivations.
It isn’t easy to make a character’s life feel real beyond the screen, but Eyre-Morgan succeeds; the actions and distractions of Benji’s internal monologues have the hallmark of truth about them. Similarly, when Jake is off-screen in his usual surroundings – it is a condition of their no-strings relationship that Benji isn’t supposed to ask about this- we know his life is going on. These are real people with real issues, insecurities, and worries.
The story begins with Benji assessing the reality of breaking up with Jake, taking us back to where it all starts: an Amsterdam airport. Hence, the “departures” of the title, the travel hub of the city where the couple always met. While the city’s canals, bistros, and bars are wonderfully depicted, it is in the hotel bedrooms that most of the couple’s hook-ups took place. The plot also revisits Benji’s exes and explores the duo’s adolescences, offering clues as to how they became the men they are today.
At its core, the film asks if Jake is only interested in sex or if he wants something more, and whether he is becoming embroiled in different levels of untruth. Departures pulls no punches in outlining just how toxic this relationship is; while Jake controls the terms, he also deprives himself, leaving his identity struggling in confusion and anger. It is a huge compliment to the film that it balances these hefty ideas alongside a joyful spirit of adventure and self-learning that is both uplifting and melancholy.
Superbly emotionally intelligent and benefiting from two excellent lead performances, the film also features strong support from the rest of the cast, including Benji’s wry mother (Lorraine Stanley). During its 82-minute running time, it brilliantly shows the effect of early experiences and the different pressures faced in our environments and an analysis of personal headspaces. With genuine emotion, authentic break-ups, and fantastic fun, this is a film that will likely be treasured by both the gay community and beyond.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★
Robert W. Monk
